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What Do You Carry in Your Saddle Bag?

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

I’m one of those people who tend to think of worst-case scenarios. Before heading out on a bike ride I think of all the things that could go wrong. I’ve been trying to change that habit because it tends to make me a bit nervous. The only benefit I gain

Read more . . . What Do You Carry in Your Saddle Bag?

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How to Fix a Dropped Bicycle Chain

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

When I first started road cycling I quickly found out how easy it is to drop the chain and end up at the side of the road with grease-covered hands. Unless you have a Grease Monkey wipe with you, it’s hard to get the grease off. The grease travels from

Read more . . . How to Fix a Dropped Bicycle Chain

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What You Need to Know About Bicycle Maintenance

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

illustration by Emily Eschner

You don’t have to be a bicycle mechanic to have a smooth-running bike. Doing routine maintenance is easy, and it can save you money as well as extend the life of your bicycle. After all, road bikes are expensive and should be treated as an

Read more . . . What You Need to Know About Bicycle Maintenance

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Don’t Wait for Spring: Get Tuned-up Now

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Last November I did something I’ve always wanted to do but have never made time for. I took my bike in for a spring tune-up. That’s right—at the end of the cycling season, not the beginning. Hey, it’s the easiest time to do it. I wasn’t using my bike. I

Read more . . . Don’t Wait for Spring: Get Tuned-up Now

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Flat Tires: Another Lesson Learned (the hard way)

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

In the last six years I’ve only had two flats. That’s probably because I’m fanatical about checking my tires and keeping them pumped up and I’m lucky to have fairly good surfaces to ride on. The only downside is that there’s been plenty of time to forget how to fix

Read more . . . Flat Tires: Another Lesson Learned (the hard way)

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Spring Tune-up

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Courtesy of Dick's Bicycle Repair Shop www.dicksbicyclerepairshop.com

Spring is in the air and you’re eagerly anticipating getting outside on your trusty steed. But before you do, there’s something you need to think about: a tune-up for your bike. Getting your bike tuned up each spring is a bit like

Read more . . . Spring Tune-up

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Squeaky Rides

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

If you hear a high-pitched squeak, squeak, squeak from your bike as you ride down the road, it could be that your derailleur pulleys need lubricating (these are also known as  jockey pulleys). Cycling in the fall can be wet and dirty and the pulleys, located close to the

Read more . . . Squeaky Rides

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Solving the Mysteries of Bike Sizing

By Sheila Ascroft

How do you know what size of bike you need? Some bikes are measured in inches, others in centimetres. Why? Mountain bikes evolved in Californian the early ‘70s and so use the American-favoured inches. Road bikes on the other hand have a long European tradition and are always measured in

Read more . . . Solving the Mysteries of Bike Sizing

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How To Repair A Bicycle Tire

By Laurel-Lea Shannon If you cycle a lot chances are eventually you’re going to get a flat tire. What do you do when that happens? Well that depends. Do you carry a spare inner tube, or have a tire repair kit? Do you have tire levers in your saddle bag? Are you

Read more . . . How To Repair A Bicycle Tire

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What Causes Pinch Flats?

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

A pinch flat happens when you ride over an obstacle like railroad tracks or a pothole and the inner tube gets pinched by the rim of the wheel. The tire isn’t punctured the way it would be if you had ridden over a nail or glass. You can recognize a pinch flat

Read more . . . What Causes Pinch Flats?

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Sheila Ascroft’s Bicycle Maintenance Check List

A bike only has a few basic parts and a finite number of problem areas. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can do some bicycle maintenance yourself. Here is a checklist to get you started:

▲ Are there any strange noises when riding? Check all bolts and tighten where needed.

Read more . . . Sheila Ascroft’s Bicycle Maintenance Check List

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Bike Fit 101

By Monika Blewett

Whether you’re planning to buy a new bike this year or getting your trusty steed ready for another great cycling season, proper bike fit is essential for comfort and to prevent injury.

First, make sure your bike shop has helped you select the correct frame size. After that, you can make several

Read more . . . Bike Fit 101

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Bike Fix: Look, Listen and Feel (Podcast)

Look, Listen and Feel – Part 1

KT Misener tells you how to look and listen to your bike, so you know when it needs maintenance before a break down on the side of the road. Learn how to oil the chain, and how to do a safety check on your bike before

Read more . . . Bike Fix: Look, Listen and Feel (Podcast)

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Bike Fix: Tools to Take With You (Podcast)

In part 2 of this interview KT Misener discusses fixing flats, how to avoid costly tune-ups and what tools to carry with you when you ride.

Download Podcast Here

 

KT, a full time bike mechanic since 2000, is the co-owner of the Bloomfield Bicycle Company in beautiful Bloomfield, Prince

Read more . . . Bike Fix: Tools to Take With You (Podcast)

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How to Lubricate a Bicycle Chain

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Once you’ve cleaned your bicycle chain, lubricating it is easy. But there are a few tricks to doing it right:

Step One: Before lubricating your bicycle chain you must have the correct oil. Buy a lubricating oil that is made specifically for bicycle chains. Do not use WD-40 or all-purpose oils like 3-in-1.

Read more . . . How to Lubricate a Bicycle Chain

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How To Clean A Bicycle Chain

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Last month, while in a bicycle shop having my road bike adjusted, I asked the bike mechanic how often I should lubricate the chain. “Depends on how much you ride,” he said. “At least once a month. But you have to clean it first. Yours is really dirty.” I looked at my

Read more . . . How To Clean A Bicycle Chain

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Bike Fit for Women

by Jacqui Snyder

When you shop for a bike it is important to ensure you get a bicycle designed for a woman. Our bodies are a different shape than a man’s, plus we face different physical challenges. For efficiency and comfort, our equipment, clothing, riding and training techniques need to be different as well.

We

Read more . . . Bike Fit for Women

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Tips For Storing Your Bike For The Winter

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

When it comes to bike maintenance, there are two kinds of cyclists—those intimately acquainted with their bikes, who lovingly wash, lubricate and maintain their trusty steed throughout the cycling season—and the rest of us: cyclists who could change a flat tire in a pinch, but mostly consult a bike mechanic when our

Read more . . . Tips For Storing Your Bike For The Winter

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Why Buy a Woman-Specific Bike?

Every summer I see women on bikes that don’t fit them properly. Either they’re reaching too far for the handlebars, or they’re perched on a frame that’s so big you wonder how they get their feet to the ground without falling when they stop.

Last time I checked, women were shaped differently from men. We

Read more . . . Why Buy a Woman-Specific Bike?

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